Harry Redknapp is determined to attract the right players to Birmingham City this summer and the club's approach so far has shown they won't rush into anything on a whim.

The former Spurs, Portsmouth and Southampton boss is embarking upon his first full season in the hotseat since 2014 having taken time out from the club game after leaving QPR in April 2015.

Redknapp, alongside director of football Jeff Vetere, has been working tirelessly to attract new players to Blues. While they have only managed to recruit three so far - David Stockdale, Marc Roberts and Cheikh Ndoye - more are expected.

Also keen to catch the eye of Redknapp are some of the club’s next generation. Jack Butland, Nathan Redmond and Demarai Gray are the most recent to have hopped off the Wast Hills production line into footballing stardom, but who might be next?

Alex Dicken takes a look at five Blues youngsters who could progress from under-23 to first team football next season.

Wes Harding

The young defender has been promoted to the first team squad in recent weeks and impressed at Kidderminster Harriers last week before being handed a surprise start in Blues' final pre-season friendly against Swansea City on Saturday.

Harding was one of Richard Beale's star performers for the under-23s last season and could be involved in the first team party travelling to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

He wasn't involved in a Blues XI who defeated Wolves at Compton yesterday which could be a good thing.

Dan Scarr

Blues signed the 22-year-old central defender in the January transfer window after he impressed during Stourbridge’s run to the FA Cup third round.

Scarr became part of Blues’ development squad last season, as was initially agreed when he joined from the Glassboys, but he will now be keen to stake a claim under the new boss.

Redknapp has already recruited Roberts from Barnsley and is after another central defender before the window closes. Ryan Shotton is likely to leave Blues before the window shuts which means Scarr could be in with a shot.

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Corey O'Keeffe

The Birmingham-born Republic of Ireland youth international is continuing his steady rise towards the first team and will be hoping for more occasions like his debut up at Newcastle United last season.

While Blues were well beaten by the Magpies, O'Keeffe's beaming smile never diminished on the long trudge home to the second city after making his senior debut.

(Image: BCFC)

O'Keeffe is able to play at full-back or in midfield and that versatility may serve him well in the coming months.

Wes McDonald

McDonald took the decision to move away from his family and friends as a 16-year-old to pursue a career with Blues.

The former Fulham youth player shone towards the end of last season for the development squad and trained with the first team sporadically last year.

McDonald signed an extension to his deal with Blues back in March following strikes against Sheffield United and Coventry.

Kyle McFarlane

The youngster has endured a difficult time with injury over the last couple of seasons and has been slowly working his way to fitness in pre-season.

McFarlane, 20, began last season brightly for Beale’s under-23 side and was highly thought of by manager at the time Gary Rowett.

The former Aston Manor school pupil had designs on a first team debut before having his season ended by injury and has returned to pre-season eager to make an impression.

Like fellow rookie Ronan Hale, McFarlane will be buoyed by the fact that Redknapp is yet to land a striker and will feel he has something different to offer a Blues attack that currently consists of Che Adams, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Clayton Donaldson.